California - Northern

[Wishing4Wings]

I'm a little biased, but welsummers are great birds.

I got one Welsummer from the feed store this spring. She was the last one because the shipment was shorted (only 25 instead of 75) and she was in the not-expected-to-survive brooder. Being a softie, I took her anyway. She was very small, had absolutely no rear end, and then I discovered what I think was an umbilical hernia. She could barely stand and was not eating or drinking much, but seemed revive after a bit of sugar water. Took about a week to get her steady on her feet, and she was ok after that, just smaller and sleeping a lot more than the other two I got to raise with her (New Hampshire and Gold sex link).

Now, at three months, you would never know that she had such a bad start. Very pretty, but not at all sociable with people. Funny, but the three that were raised together still sometimes hang out separate from the rest of the group, even though they are only 1 week younger. Guess it's that early bonding!

Can't wait to see the pretty eggs! I had planned on getting 2 Welsummers, but felt lucky to get the one. Heard that breeders' stock is much better than hatchery birds, especially for temperament, so maybe next year, if you are selling any....

. How far "Northern" are you? (Resistance is futile. -- the little voice in my head

).

 

[zooweemama]

Cleaned the ducks coop today. It's airing out right now. Then in with the hay. I should be pretty buff after doing this for a few months right?

 

[zooweemama]

I got one Welsummer from the feed store this spring. She was the last one because the shipment was shorted (only 25 instead of 75) and she was in the not-expected-to-survive brooder. Being a softie, I took her anyway. She was very small, had absolutely no rear end, and then I discovered what I think was an umbilical hernia. She could barely stand and was not eating or drinking much, but seemed revive after a bit of sugar water. Took about a week to get her steady on her feet, and she was ok after that, just smaller and sleeping a lot more than the other two I got to raise with her (New Hampshire and Gold sex link).

Now, at three months, you would never know that she had such a bad start. Very pretty, but not at all sociable with people. Funny, but the three that were raised together still sometimes hang out separate from the rest of the group, even though they are only 1 week younger. Guess it's that early bonding!

Can't wait to see the pretty eggs! I had planned on getting 2 Welsummers, but felt lucky to get the one. Heard that breeders' stock is much better than hatchery birds, especially for temperament, so maybe next year, if you are selling any....

. How far "Northern" are you? (Resistance is futile. -- the little voice in my head

).

Such a sweet story! I think with those of us that aren't trying to be breeders for selling- we can definitely take in the birds that melt our hearts with their rough starts or rescues. The Welsummers just look so pretty. They were my number 3 pick. Buff Orps, then BC Marans and the Welsummers. Next year depending on what we have decided to do chicken-wise (how many and what kind etc) mayyyybe we will try to hunt down some nice Welsummers.

 

[mattjosiereiko]

...

Hello all,

Nice to see all the folks from Cali in here.... my $0.02 is that N.CA kind of starts at some fuzzy line midway through the S.F. Bay area...  I live in Vallejo and have been raising chickens for 3 years now... I have 16 girls ; 1 buff orpington, 1 red sex link, 1 black sex link, 1 australorp, 1 partridge cochin, 1 faverolle, 1 danish brown leghorn, 1 gold laced wyandotte, 1 cuckoo maran, 3 americanas, 4 welsummers


I have them on a complete Certified organic diet as I have found us silly Cali folks will compensate me the difference for my trouble in obtaining certified organic pellets and scratch.. I use no chemicals in the garden, lawn. fruit trees or flower gardens... I buy my organic feed and scratch at powell brothers feed in Vallejo or the feed supply in Napa... Good folks in both places... use lots of DE everywhere and use natural pest controls i get from www.gardensalive.com. Make all my own compost, well the girls help /img/smilies/big_smile.png and learning by trial and error on things... It's fun learning to garden with the girls in mind and even what i grow in the flower garden.


Norm in N.CA /img/smilies/caf.gif
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hi norm

im from vallejo also, i have some hens in my backyard too.. i hope i can visit your chicken one of this day.. thanks

matt

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

It's good to hear from you!

I am in Woodland, so not too far from you.

Ron

 

[Happy Chooks]

How far "Northern" are you? (Resistance is futile. -- the little voice in my head

).

I'm east of Auburn, so not too far North.

My wellies are friendly, but they are not lap chickens. They will come up to you and eat out of your hand, but they don't like being picked up.

I don't have a darn thing right now though. 2 of my welsummers are broody (1 raising a baby, the other just started sitting), my other girl is on strike and a several growing out but not laying yet. Welsummers are not supposed to go broody!!!! I have all these breeds for broodies and the ones I don't want to go broody go broody! Anyhow, I *should* be back in eggs by fall.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I'm east of Auburn, so not too far North.

My wellies are friendly, but they are not lap chickens. They will come up to you and eat out of your hand, but they don't like being picked up.

I don't have a darn thing right now though. 2 of my welsummers are broody (1 raising a baby, the other just started sitting), my other girl is on strike and a several growing out but not laying yet. Welsummers are not supposed to go broody!!!! I have all these breeds for broodies and the ones I don't want to go broody go broody! Anyhow, I *should* be back in eggs by fall.

None of mine are lap chickens either (we have dogs and a lovely bunny for cuddling

), it's just that the Welsummer acts downright terrified of people, even in the face of tempting treats. My mixed flock of ten are all 12-13 weeks, so I'll wait until next spring and raise up a few more chicks (1-2 Welsummers for sure + whatever I need to have) so I'll have a group to integrate with the older ones. I'm not breeding, just like chickens and want eggs.

In fact, I have an EE roo that just started crowing this week if anybody's interested.... he's free! (mostly white/beige with red and gold, pea comb and green legs, beard and muffs)

 

[zooweemama]

Oh good golly. Can someone help me? We found a baby mallard running around the backyard. No mommy. No nest. There was a HUGE family of wild turkeys quietly moving through our yard- I don't know if that had anything to do with it. It looks like new new new. What in the world do I do with it? My 6 year old found her running around my coop. Do I contact some wildlife thing or something? I am googling...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, you DO know how to raise ducks.............................just sayin'.



I say put it in with your chicks. So much for your clean brooder.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

That's how I got my first duck as a kid. It was running around on the floor at the feed store under the brooders while I was mooning at the babies. When I picked it up to have it put back, the guy said it wasn't one of theirs and that it was a wild mallard! Told me take it home, so of course being a very obedient child, I did (after a prolonged bout of pleading to my folks). Mel turned out to be a boy and a very good friend. When he got older, I got a girlfriend for him, Phoebe the khaki campbell. They were devoted to each other. One spring she sat on a nest of 14 eggs, and 12 babies joined our duckie family. Later that same year, I lost Mel to a raccoon

and kind of lost heart over that. A family in our area took the rest of the ducks and that was good, because they had a pond (all we was an outdoor bathtub!).

So maybe you could keep the little one? There might some law, but I won't tell anyone!